Happy Tuesday...

Yes it was a happy Tuesday, right up until flu shot time at the kids school came around. Let me start this by saying I am not huge on immunizing if its not mandatory....but since we are on Guam which kinda constitutes a self contained cesspool of viruses I figured this year the girls would get vaccinated against the flu. So when I picked the girls up at 3pm we were to go into the cafeteria for their vaccinations. You would have thought I was torturing them by the crying which started in the lobby and carried on clear through and beyond their vaccinating. And understand this- it was just the mist, not even an actual injection! Madison has always had a phobia of any sort of physical invasive procedure- seems Ellie has now picked up on it. All this adds up to a very embarrassing time for me, two grown children having to be corralled (one had to be held- I won't tell you which, but her name starts with Ellie) and firmly sat down all the while crying.....for the flu MIST. Needless to say they lost all stories, dessert and electronics- and had to deal with a very not happy mom.......I am still shaking my head- really, it was only the mist......

There are few advantages to having my day start

before all of yours- but a really fun one

for me is that I get to be the first to wish my

Grandpa a very happy birthday! I adore you Bill :)

and wish I were there to hug you in person.

Grandma, be sure to give Grandpa a big

birthday hug for me and tell him I love him.

Added....

Here is the picture from the post below:

Sorry to Barb and Ross that Kevin's diplomas ended up being so high. I know how you feel about high pictures, but it just couldn't be helped!

Most importantly in all this- I am officially moved in, guess we are here for the long haul....

God Bless All Souls Day.

Had a day off today, so I am going with some low key bloggin'...

Today was All Soul's Day. Its a day to visit family graves and such. Kevin and the girls are not on the Guam system so they had school/work. I would love to tell you here that I sat on the couch and ate bon-bons all day....or even that I went for a spa day. Pretty much spent the day doing the things I had been wanting to do for the past two weeks. Tackled the computer room- not done yet still have to hang some things so pictures of the room will follow- caught up on some emailing I have been meaning to do (thanks everyone for your patience with my slow turn around time- and to those I finally got around to emailing for the first time!) and of course there is the never ending laundry and groceries. I had forgotten how fast 2:45 comes around! Didn't get everything done, but its a start.

Back to school tomorrow- really hoping that with Halloween being over that the students are a little more sedate, cause last week got crazy!

The Old Standby

Ended up back at Gab Gab Beach today- the one just up the road. Had thoughts of making it out to Haputo Beach, but by the time we were back from church and had eaten- seemed late to be driving so far. Funny right? Too far to drive on a 30 mile island. The limited land makes you lazy I guess.

Kevin really loves island life. As much as Madison and I may struggle at times with being here, he is just over the top happy with just about every part of Guam. Then of course you have Ellie- still very easy going, and pleased to be wherever her feet may find her.

Madison and Kevin went out past the coral reef when they snorkeled today and saw some really unique and beautiful fish. Maddie loves looking up and identifying the sea life. Ellie and I stick close to the shore avoiding the sea life all together..... except for the crabs- there is no avoiding them.

So it'll be Haputo Beach next Saturday. Apparently it has a similar difficulty level to that of the Spanish Steps- we all remember that fiasco... though I am hopeful as Haputo is free of climbing ropes.

On a "what a small world" note...at church today I ran into a lady that I went to church with back in Maryland! Couldn't believe it. Two moves ago and half way around the world....what are the odds?

Halloween!

Its finally here!

As promised lots of photos tonight!

The girls were so excited to do the pumpkins, get dressed up and go out trick or treating. Some depression (mostly from Madison) the last few days, probably due to thinking back to our last Halloween and all the friends we shared it with. Ended up being fun though getting ready for tonight- including putting up the spider web with the purple lights-always a favorite (purple lights courtesy of Barb last Halloween- thanks Barb!)....plus they hooked up with the boys next door to go out door to door, so that worked out well.

Mom, as usual, gets to stay home hand out candy and do the even worse hated task of separating out the pumpkin seeds for roasting. Whoever thought of roasting pumpkin seeds as being a good idea should have also invented a gunk-less pumpkin......seriously yucky job. Aggie is staying home this year as well- she gets out of breath pretty easily and even after the sun goes down its still warm out. I have her bed right here next to me while I blog, waiting for the next bunch of kids. Though supposedly we don't get many trick or treaters as we are on the outside of the neighborhood- you remember how it goes.....strategize for the least amount of walking in order to maximize your candy getting!

Pretty funny- just had Ellie and Madison back home for a drink of cold water, and asking if they could change out of their costumes because it is too hot out! Oh the joys of Halloween on a tropical island. I remember the days of crying because I didn't want to put a winter coat over my costume.....

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. Don't worry if you don't get a lot of candy- I have already eaten enough on behalf of all of you!

Busy, busy....

Great day today, lots of Halloween talk for the girls. They are really excited for tomorrow. Of course tomorrow promises to be super busy- swim meet first thing in the morning, followed by a planned all day power outage here at home so we will try to stay busy out in town at least past lunch. It gets hot in here with no air-conditioning. What kind of base XO would plan a power outage on Halloween day? I have put my formal complaints in.

School today for me was different to say the least. I have had two days with a bit of a struggle with a couple of students and discipline issues. Today one jumped over the balcony- so I took him to the assistant principle to deal with that. Anyway- lots of high spirits in the students- too close to Halloween I guess. There was a school-wide planned activity afternoon today. Teachers were suppose to be present in the hallways to help try and dissuade any violence. I tell you what, being out there dealing with the rest of the student population makes me appreciate my 50 students all the more. The disrespect, and in my face attitude was incredible. Lots of staring me down speaking rudely and towering over me to intimidate. Cause seriously..... Well it was a good day for no fights though- only two "tiffs" broke out- that could be because they called in the police force to help contain the kids. The superintendent of the schools came to Southern High for an emergency meeting yesterday- trying to address the violence. Seems really epidemic-ish.

The best part of the afternoon was a really scary haunted house I went through! Haven't been scared like that in a while. The honors society at the school put on a haunted house for a fund raiser so we did a field trip for my whole 4th period class. SO scary! Really dark, lots of ghoulish people coming out at you....oy! I went through with 3 of my students and they clung so hard I still have bruises. Lots of fun for a good cause- extra neat because 3 or more of my students were the ones to set it up and were the actors in it. The administration originally cancelled the haunted house due to the violence, but the honors students put in some good arguments and was able to change their minds. I am glad for it, something positive in a school with some ongoing issues.

No pictures tonight, but I promise to make up for it tomorrow night- don't know if I am more excited about Halloween or about taking Halloween pictures with my new camera :)

Puppy Update

All is well here on Guam- lots of cruddy weather following the last tropical storm to pass through- but sincerely, wind and rain- not unusual here.

Here is a Staples family puppy update- they are one week old! Still don't know which one will be theirs....